Daring Bakers September– Why I Didn’t Make It

The September 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mandy of “What the Fruitcake?!” Mandy challenged everyone to make Decorated Sugar Cookies based on recipes from Peggy Porschen and The Joy of Baking.

That’s great for Mandy and the unbelievably hard-working members of the Daring Bakers. I didn’t do it this month. Why, you may ask. Here are a few answers: A.) I’m exhausted. B.) I blinked and September went by. C.) I’ve worked so many extra hours I can afford a new fall wardrobe. But most importantly, I just don’t like sugar cookies. Sure, I could dump off the lot to the locusts at work, but why make something I don’t like? Also, I don’t like precious decorations on food, sorry. I am not Ferran Adria nor his countryman Salvador Dali. I don’t paint and I don’t paint with food.

After getting through the month eating mostly cheese plates and omelets because I was too tired and burnt out to make anything else, I finally had a day off today that was dedicated to baking. A coworker is going to do the 3 day walk for breast cancer and still needs to raise money for his team. He’s so well-liked, that people at work have decided to have a bake sale this coming Friday to help him raise the final tally. I used the bake sale as an excuse to go to town. I shopped in the morning and baked slowly, leisurely all afternoon. I ended up making two different cookies and got more than the estimated amount. That never happens. In total, I make 11 dozen cookies. Baci and ditte di mandorle. They’re plain, dry, fine and go beautifully with coffee. My favorite kind.

What I made instead of the sugar cookies.

I haven’t put the baci together yet, so I didn’t photograph them. If I have time, I’ll make the ganache tomorrow and sandwich them. If I don’t, they’ll go plain. They’re good enough as is and I didn’t even have to melt any chocolate.

So, sorry Daring Bakers, for not being part of the club this month, but I just couldn’t. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming…